My name is Julie Cramer and I watched my father fight GIST for more than a decade. I have yet to meet another person with his strength of will and determination to live. While I do believe that he had super-human strength, I also know that without the researchers and physicians that provided his treatment, he would not have survived as long as he did (12 years after diagnosis).

 My dad has been my hero for as long as I can remember and there is nothing I wanted more than to have my children grow up knowing the amazing man that he was. Even though he has passed away, I know that there are so many other people struggling with this disease. He wanted me to continue on this mission.

Because GIST is so rare, there is very little funding for researchers who study this very specific type of sarcoma. It has become my mission to raise both awareness about GIST and funds for researchers so that new drugs can continue to be developed and patients can survive longer.

Please help by attending the event or making a donation to the GIST Research Fund. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the guest book or e-mail Julie at Juliepc@gistbenefitball.org.

Special thanks to the following people who have helped solicit support for the event.

Keith Galley (Westampton, NJ)
Kim Hoffman (PA)
Cass Roberts (Medford, NJ)

Julie Cramer and her father, Mark Becker.